Dedicated to Yvonne Loriod, Les Oiseaux exotiques were composed at the request of
Pierre Boulez for his Domaine Musical concerts at the Petit Théâtre Marigny, and premiered in Paris
on March 10th, 1956. Within an ensemble that includes a xylophone, two clarinets, a small wind
band, and percussion instruments, Messiaen wrote a considerably important part for the solo piano.
In fact, this work could almost be considered a piano concerto, replete with three short, and two
longer cadenzas. Aside from the piano, two B-flat clarinets also play an important role,
specifically within the central tutti, in the song of the migrating thrush. An important solo is
also assigned to the xylophone.

Les Oiseaux exotiques draws on the exotic bird songs of India, China, Malasia, and the
Americas. Some of the more significant appropriations include the lyric call of the wood thrush,
which concludes the first movement and initiates the final piano cadenza with the full-throated
tones of its sunny, ringing, almost solemn fanfare. The Baltimore oriole, plumped up in its orange
and black plumage, delivers a joyous set of vocalises, while the Virginia red cardinal holds forth
with a rapid and flowing high-pitched song. The gray catbird begins his strophes with a mewing
sound, hence its name. The mocking bird brings brassy motives with staccati articulations, the
whole rich in harmonics.